After 4 yrs of fighting, Palestinian security forces capabilities limited

[Scurrilous]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2005/01/18/international1633EST0666.DTL

After four years of fighting with Israel, Palestinian security forces capabilities are limited (full title)

<snip>

"Under pressure from Israel, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas went to Gaza on Tuesday in hopes of persuading militant groups to halt their attacks on Israeli targets. Abbas has an estimated 30,000 security forces available to preserve calm. While Palestinian security forces cracked down on militants in 1996, their capabilities have been severely weakened after fours years of violence with Israel. Abbas says he will not use violence to end the attacks.

Here's a look at the strength of Palestinian security forces and militant groups in the Gaza Strip.


Palestinian National Security: This umbrella agency, led by Lt. Gen. Abdel Razek Majaide, includes the Palestinian border police, military intelligence, military police and the elite Force 17 presidential security unit. With an estimated 15,000 members, it is the largest security force in Gaza. But its infrastructure has been decimated by Israeli airstrikes, leaving it with few weapons beyond pistols, rifles and M-16 assault rifles.


Palestinian Intelligence Services: The intelligence service, led by Maj. Gen. Amin al-Hindi, has about 5,000 members in Gaza. It has remained largely intact during the fighting. But it focuses on collecting information about collaborators with Israel and security for Palestinian diplomatic missions abroad, leaving it poorly equipped for domestic security duties.


Interior Ministry: The ministry, led by Hakam Balawi, oversees Gaza's police force and preventive security agency. It has about 10,000 members and is meant to fight internal crime. The ministry's forces have been hit hard by Israeli attacks, as evidenced by the general state of chaos that has overtaken Gaza in recent years."

[eyl]

1. They left out

most of the security services; the article only mentions three or four, but there are, IIRC, at least 13. I've seen interviews with various Palestinian security bigwigs (most notably, a few months ago, there was a television article wher an Israeli journalist joined one of the forces' training) - and they declared they did have the capability, if called to do so. Whether they were lying (to the journalist or themselves) or not is, of course, anotehr question.

[Paleocon]

2. I'd be surprised if they could repel a well equipped boy scout troop...

After the pounding they've been taking the past couple years...

[The Magistrate]

3. If, Sir

Mr. Abbas is serious about enforcing his own authority in the matter of violence used for political ends, he is sooner or later going to have to bite the bullet and supply intelligence on the armed factions' personnel and circumstances directly to the Israeli security services.

[pelsar]

4. they dont have to do much...

its really quite easy and all they need are their AK-47s..which they have more than enough of.

they just have to patrol with lots and lots of troops in the N. Gaza strip to stop the kassams...radio contact (secretly) with the IDF which has long range cameras etc for further info, and thats it.

They can do what the IDF cant, which is patrol on foot, take lunch breaks in open fields (thereby eliminating that field as a potential launching site)...and generally wander around such places as Beit Chanun...and no doubt be welcomed from the residents who are probably quite sick of hearing the tank treads of israeli armoured vechicles approaching.

As long as their in large numbers, with automatic weapons....thats all they need to do,

[The Magistrate]

5. That Is True, Mr. Pelsar

My mind, as you may have noted, has a dark turn to it. It seems to me it might be useful to do things without appearing openly to do them in this particular matter, hence the suggested course. It does seem to me the best way for Mr. Abbas to take serious steps in his own interests in situation; it would be both the most effective, and the easiest to deny at need.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. To parphrase "Will it play in Preoria?" . . .

Will it play in Nabulus or Jenin?

I'm afraid if Abbas is serious about enforcing his authority over the militants, he'll have ot rely on his own security forces, such as they are, and his own intelligence. I wouldn't want to involve the Israelis in such a thing. A crackdown like that (which I also believe must take place) must be a Palestinian matter.